How Much Does Airsoft Gear Cost?

Airsoft is a competitive sport that’s become pretty popular in recent years, and to be safe and successful while playing, you need to make sure you have the right airsoft gear. But if you don’t have the budget to spend hundreds of dollars on the newest equipment, can you still get in on the fun? The short answer is: yes! In this post, we’ll be breaking down how much airsoft tactical gear costs, and how that number can change depending on your budget.

What Gear Do You Need for Airsoft?

When you begin searching for airsoft gear, you’ll quickly notice that there are a lot of options. The pieces you choose to purchase can vary, but you want to make sure you at least have the basics. Basic gear can include your airsoft gun, eye protection, face masks/headgear, tactical vests, and tactical gloves. If you’re new to the game and need gear recommendations, our article on Airsoft Gear: What You Need In Your Loadout goes more in-depth with the different types of airsoft tactical gear, and what you should be looking for while shopping.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you’re going to be playing airsoft in a sanctioned field, then they might have specific requirements for the safety gear you’ll need to wear. For example, helmets and gloves aren’t always necessary, but they are helpful when it comes to avoiding the pain of being hit in the head or hands while playing. However, most legitimate airsoft fields will require you to wear some kind of eye protection.

Understanding the Cost Breakdown

There are three main categories that your airsoft costs can fall under. These are guns/gear, BBs, and game tickets/costs. Let’s look at how these three categories break down, so you can get a better understanding of how much you’ll need to spend:

1. Guns and Gear
   Your airsoft gun is the most important piece of gear you’ll purchase, which means it’s probably going to be where you spend most of your money. Gun prices can range dramatically depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re on a budget and aren’t that serious about the game, you can find pretty cheap options. But if you think you’re really going to get into the game, you should expect to spend somewhere between $180 and $240 on your gun. This puts you in the middle range, and expenses can go up if you choose to add upgrades to your weapon.
   
   If you’re on a tight budget, you can always try shopping secondhand for gear like vests, gloves, and eyewear. The one thing that we don’t recommend you try to find secondhand is your airsoft gun. You can run into issues purchasing a gun secondhand since you don’t know exactly what you’re getting. It’s better to put your money toward a legitimate airsoft gun that has a warranty.
   
   At Tactical Distributors, we have a wide selection of gear that can be used for airsoft purposes. Check out our collection of tactical gloves, tactical eyewear, and plate carriers & chest rigs to see our high-quality options for every budget.
   
   
2. Airsoft BBs
   One of your reoccurring expenses will be your ammo, and the amount you go through can vary depending on your preferred style of play. If you’re playing fast or on full-auto, you’ll probably end up using a lot more ammo than if you prefer being in a sniper-like role. The weight and quality of the BBs you choose to use will make a difference in the cost as well. The average pack of airsoft 4,000 BBs costs around $10, and higher-quality ones are closer to $15. You can even purchase biodegradable options, but those are more expensive, priced at around $20 for the same quantity. If you’re on a budget, you can stick to the more affordable, basic-quality BBs and get along fine. But keep in mind that you get what you pay for when it comes to airsoft ammo, so the pricier BBs might offer better results.
   
   
3. Game Tickets or Costs
   The last cost you’ll want to consider when planning out your budget is the game expenses. There are many sanctioned airsoft fields in the U.S., and there are often both indoor and outdoor fields to choose from. Prices can vary depending on the field, but they average anywhere between $10 and $35 for a day. Of course, if you’re just going to be playing in a yard with some of your friends, you won’t have to worry about this cost. But you have to be careful about venturing too far from your own land, as you can run into issues if you don’t have the owner’s permission.

Getting Started With Airsoft

Here's a quick review on the basics of airsoft. Airsoft is a competitive team shooting game that’s similar to paintball. Players tag opponents out of the game with plastic pellets (BBs) fired from high-powered airsoft automatic electric guns (AEGs). It's a highly tactical sport, simulating military strategy in conditions that recreate tactical warfare situations. You can have as many players as you want, allowing you to create a truly immersive experience.

We hope this post has helped answer some questions you may have had about airsoft gear costs, and how to budget for the game in general. If you have questions about finding the right gear, please reach out to us! We pride ourselves on having the best customer service in the business, and we take that role very seriously. So go ahead and give us a call – we’d love to help out!